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2025 Themes
February: Workplace & Culture
May: Therapeutic Techniques
August: Palliative Care
November: Caregivers
The Importance of Self-care in the Oncology Work Setting
By Deysi Vatman, LMSW
As an oncology social work clinician, I’ve come to understand that the path to healing is seldom a linear journey. As a social worker, a healer, a daughter and a cancer survivor myself, I deeply acknowledge the importance of self-care in the oncology work setting. My role as a patient navigator allows me to hear the stories of my patients’ triumphs and challenges in the healthcare system. Offering and connecting them to services and being a source of information and support is something I take great pride in. However, oftentimes, if I do not acknowledge my boundaries of being present, available and able to help; I find myself experiencing the weight of the complexities that come with helping others.
I have learned that helping myself and taking a moment to appreciate the present, look outside my window to see the sunshine or clouds, and take a moment to breathe are crucial. In my role as a breast cancer clinician, my personal journey toward self-care evolved significantly, particularly in my initial year as a social worker in New York City. I learned early on the importance of prioritizing my physical and mental health by eating food, getting plenty of rest, and making time for health appointments. Having a lighthearted meeting and carving out time to end your afternoon speaking with a colleague or friend is an intentional way of ensuring you can continue to show up for your clients.
Working in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic as a high-risk care management social worker revealed a profound realization that self-care is different for everyone. This realization emphasized the importance of recognizing our own needs amidst the
urgent calls for help. As social workers, our ethics and values are inherently aligned with aiding individuals and communities, bridging gaps in care, and maintaining mindfulness in the face of change, all while prioritizing patient-centered care. Through my work experiences, I discovered the significance of carving out moments for myself—taking mindful walks around the nearby park after conversations with clients who shared their anxieties, frustrations and the uncertainty of their situations. I also utilized my support groups and mindfulness app and exercises that were offered through my employment. Understanding my own capacity on any given day became crucial and taught me the importance of what I can do in a given day. I have learned that my self-care tools vary each day and should not be an extra job on top of my work.
Recognizing the limits of what I could give allowed me to be present for my clients and serve as the advocate they needed as well as what I needed from my work to keep up the support I provide. My work environment was helpful in attaining respect and support from colleagues about our concerns, working within my hours, and utilizing my PTO while encouraging my colleagues to take theirs as well. I looked into understanding compassion fatigue and participated in ongoing training on Mindfulness practices. I also found words of positive self-talk and learned to be kinder to myself and give myself the grace I give to others. I adopted practices such as limiting work-related discussions at home with my husband, embracing humor through a love for standup comedy and comedy specials, taking breaks during the workday with my colleagues, setting up outside of workdays to spend time with them, and engaging in solitary non-social work activities like drawing, photography, museum visits, and hiking.
These practices formed the foundation of my belief that self-care is rooted in balance and mindfulness of our time and connection to work and our personal life and setting out intentional time to carve out for myself and something outside of work. In my home environment, I utilize sensory tools such as incense, essential oils and candles, and my love for cooking homemade meals and propagating plants. I utilize my work-from-home space to honor my workspace and utilize ways to wear comfortable clothes and still maintain a professional presentation to my colleagues. In my role as a patient navigator at Susan G Komen, integrating the Calm App provided by our organization for meditation between client calls or intakes has become a valuable tool in self-care. This reinforces my belief that self-care is not just a set of actions but a frame of mind—a conscious effort to hold both our patients and us in the delicate equilibrium of balance, presence, and the pursuit of functionality in our day-to-day lives.
About the Author

Deysi Vatman, LMSW
Private Practice PsychotherapistNew York, New York
emaildeysi@gmail.com
Deysi Vatman is a licensed clinical social worker with a master’s degree from Smith College School of Social Work (MSW). She currently works as a care manager and as a private psychotherapist at her own private practice. Previously, Deysi ...
Read Full Author Bio

Deysi Vatman, LMSW
Private Practice PsychotherapistNew York, New York
emaildeysi@gmail.com
Deysi Vatman is a licensed clinical social worker with a master’s degree from Smith College School of Social Work (MSW). She currently works as a care manager and as a private psychotherapist at her own private practice.
Previously, Deysi served as an MBC Patient Navigator at Susan G. Komen, a Breast Health Resource Social Worker at the Dubin Breast Center, and a High-Risk Health Home Social Worker at The Mount Sinai Hospital. She currently serves on a survivorship committee at AONN+ (Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigator). She lives in New York City with her husband, David.
Articles
Mental Health and SurvivorshipThe Importance of Self-care in the Oncology Work Setting